EP3224163A1

EP3224163A1 - Device and method for controlled conveyance

Info

Publication number: EP3224163A1
Application number: EP15801197.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zmaj Petrovic; Julien Berger
Original assignee: Gebo Packaging Solutions France SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Engineering and Conveying Solutions SAS
Priority date: 2014-11-28
Filing date: 2015-11-09
Publication date: 2017-10-04
Also published as: FR3029185B1; WO2016083699A1; FR3029185A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor device (1) for moving products (2) in a flow (6) and separating same into bundles (10), wherein said conveyor device (1) comprises an upstream conveyor (3) and a downstream conveyor (4), arranged such that the products (2) move along the upstream conveyor (3) then along the downstream conveyor (4), wherein said conveyor device (1) has a transition boundary (5), transverse to the flow (6), upstream of which a product (2) is conveyed by the upstream conveyor (3) and downstream of which said product is conveyed by the downstream conveyor (4). Said device comprises a control method capable of moving the transition boundary (5) towards the upstream side or the downstream side of the flow (6) by creating a vertical motion. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING CONTROL

The present invention relates to the field of product processing in a packaging line, and its purpose is, on the one hand, a particular conveying device, and, on the other hand, a method implementing this device.

More specifically, the conveying device object of the invention not only fulfills a product conveying function, but also a controlled product separation function, in other words a function of transforming a column of compact products into a column. compact groups of products, these groups being spaced apart. The device which is the subject of the invention therefore makes it possible to form batches from a column of products in contact one behind the other.

There are currently several ways to make batches from products circulating in columns.

A first way is to use a retractable stop which can stop the conveying of the products so as to let the products downstream of said abutment progress. Once the desired spacing has been obtained, the stop is retracted and reinserted by blocking the advance of the products as soon as the desired number of products in the batch has been released.

Such an embodiment has many drawbacks, among which large and repeated friction at each batch that cause wear and energy loss, a slower overall yield since the column of products is regularly stopped, as well as the shocks caused by the shutdown. abrupt column and which also limit the speed of circulation of products.

Another existing embodiment consists essentially of arranging two conveyors one after the other, the downstream conveyor can lift and block the flow of products. As it descends towards the upstream conveyor, the column of products continues to circulate. The aforementioned disadvantages are found.

Other embodiments implement a succession of two conveyors, the downstream conveyor operating continuously, and the upstream conveyor operating discontinuously so as to send on the downstream conveyor the products in accordance with the desired configuration for the batches. The overall flow of products is necessarily low, since the upstream conveyor operates only intermittently. In addition, the push of products still upstream can still bring a product on the downstream conveyor. The inertia to overcome at each batch makes the system effective, and the acceleration that can impose the upstream conveyor products must be high enough so that the products of the same batch remain well against each other. Such operation therefore remains slow and unreliable.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes to move in a controlled manner the passage zone of the products from one to the other of a pair of conveyors, and preferably thanks to a structure for creating this displacement from a vertical movement.

The invention also relates to a device for conveying products, to move them in flow with respect to a fixed frame and to separate in batches a compact column of such products, said conveying device comprising an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor. one after the other, arranged so that the products circulate on the upstream conveyor then on the downstream conveyor,

said conveying device having a transition boundary, transverse to the flow, upstream of which a product is conveyed by the upstream conveyor and downstream of which it is conveyed by the downstream conveyor.

This device is characterized in that

it comprises a control means able to move the transition boundary upstream or downstream of the flow by creating a vertical movement.

The subject of the invention is also a method implemented by this device, namely a method for conveying products in the form of a flow, to create separate batches from a column of products, said method comprising:

conveying the products on an upstream conveyor, then conveying the products on a downstream conveyor just after, these conveyors being arranged so as to have a transition boundary, upstream of which a product is driven by the upstream conveyor and downstream of which it is driven by the downstream conveyor.

This method is characterized in that it comprises a step consisting essentially of move the transition boundary upstream or downstream of the flow, and this during conveying of products.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description below, which is based on possible embodiments, explained in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of the sequence of an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor,

FIG. 2 shows more precisely the transition boundary - FIG. 3 shows five steps of the formation of batches, 3a, 3b,

3c, 3d and 3e;

FIG. 4 shows in plan view the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor and

FIG. 5 schematically shows the means for controlling the position of the transition boundary and

FIG. 6 illustrates, in chronogram form, the position of the transition boundary in time, between two extreme positions.

The first object of the invention is therefore a device 1 for conveying products 2, to move them in flow 6 with respect to a fixed frame and to separate in batches a compact column of such products 2,

said conveying device 1 comprising an upstream conveyor 3 and a downstream conveyor 4 one after the other, arranged so that the products 2 circulate on the upstream conveyor 3 and then on the downstream conveyor 4,

said conveying device 1 having a transition boundary 5, transverse to the stream 6, upstream of which a product 2 is conveyed by the upstream conveyor 3 and downstream of which it is conveyed by the downstream conveyor 4.

The product column 2 therefore circulates firstly on the upstream conveyor 3 and then on the downstream conveyor 4. They are aligned in the sense that passing from one to the other, a product 2 does not undergo any movement As will be further detailed below, the directions in which the products 2 are successively conveyed are not however strictly parallel, at least at the level of the transition boundary 5, although essentially extending in a direction of transition. same vertical plane. The downstream conveyor 4 preferably has a higher speed than the upstream conveyor 3, which allows, during the passage from one to the other, to separate the products and thus create the space between batches 10.

This conveying device 1 thus makes it possible to create batches 10 of products 2, the products 2 and the batches 10 all circulating in the same column. Such a device can be placed upstream of a palletizing machine, where the products 2 are deposited in successive layers on a pallet. Of course, such a device can be used again upstream of any type of machine requiring the processing of batches of products 2.

The products 2 can be for example boxes, packs, boxes or groups of unitary elements connected together, or bottles, etc. An accumulation conveyor may be upstream of the upstream conveyor 3, in order to ensure that on the upstream conveyor 3, the products 2 evolve well into a compact column, ideally with the products 2 of the column in contact with each other. other. The upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 are preferably of the endless belt type, carrying the products 2 resting by their lower surface on the upper surface of said band. As the products are successively subjected to the drive of the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, and that they do not have the same speed, the instantaneous speed of circulation of a product 2 during the passage of one to the other depends on the proportion of the surface of the product 2 in contact with the upstream conveyor 3 with respect to that in contact with the downstream conveyor 4. Beyond a certain ratio between these two surfaces, when the product 2 rests especially on the upstream conveyor 3, the speed of the product 2 will be that of the upstream conveyor 3. Conversely, the lower the lower surface portion of the product 2 which is in contact with the downstream conveyor 4 increases, the speed of the product 2 will approach the downstream conveyor 4. The transition boundary 5 then forms a fictitious limit from which the product 2 begins to be in contact with the downstream conveyor 4 and therefore from which its speed relative to the frame goes gradually become that of the co downstream engine 4.

FIG. 2 for example shows that in the context of the invention, the conveying directions of the downstream conveyor 4 on the one hand and the upstream conveyor 3 on the other hand are not parallel as seen from the side at the border transition 5, and that the product 2 which exceeds the transition boundary 5 sees its most downstream part driven by the downstream conveyor 4, until the entire lower surface of the product 2 has exceeded the transition boundary 5 and then rests on the downstream conveyor 4, which then imposes its speed on the product 2.

The transition boundary 5 preferably takes the form of a fixed line transverse to the stream 6. The product 2 is entirely on the upstream conveyor 3 as long as its downstream portion has not exceeded said transition boundary 5. It is entirely on the downstream conveyor 4 once its upstream portion has fully exceeded this transition boundary 5. Between these two moments, the product 2 passes through this boundary and its speed evolves to pass, gradually or rapidly, the speed of the upstream conveyor 3 to that of the downstream conveyor 4. The products 2 have in fact a certain length in the direction of the flow 6, which of course depends on the dimensions of the product 2, but also on its orientation, which may have been modified for the purposes of palletizing. downstream of the batch creation that must be provided by this device.

According to the invention, the conveying device 1 comprises a control means 7 able to move the transition boundary 5 upstream or downstream of the flow 6 by creating a vertical movement, in particular a vertical movement from least one conveyor from the downstream conveyor 4 and the upstream conveyor 3. Thus, at least one degree of freedom allowing vertical movement is conferred on the downstream conveyor 4 and / or on the upstream conveyor 3, so that, as will be described more, by causing such a vertical displacement of small amplitude, it is possible to move the transition boundary 5 very rapidly horizontally with respect to the column of products 2 which circulates in the conveying device 1. Such a degree of freedom can be a vertical translation or, preferably, a rotation about a transverse horizontal axis 8 to the flow 6. The vertical displacement of the at least one conveyor may therefore be linear or pendulum, following a rotation tation.

The control means 7 ensures this movement in a controlled manner, in amplitude or even in speed, since, as will be described further below, the amplitude of the vertical movement imposed on the upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4 conditions the amplitude with which the transition boundary 5 moves in the product column 4 which passes through the conveying device 1 and therefore both the number of products 2 brought almost simultaneously on the downstream conveyor 4 and thus forming a batch 10 that the space between the lots 10 themselves. In addition, the speed of vertical displacement conditions the possible difference between the products 2 of the same batch 10.

Thus, this control means 7 may for example take the form of an actuator 9 adapted to move verticlament at least a portion of the upstream conveyor 3 and / or at least a portion of the downstream conveyor 4, such as motor, cylinder or other. Its action may consist in creating the movement causing the transition boundary 5 to move in one direction, the gravity being able to be used to create the inverse movement for example. This control means 7 can also act to keep motionless the conveyor that is subject to it.

According to an additional possible characteristic, the upstream end of the downstream conveyor 4 is upstream of the downstream end of the upstream conveyor 3. There is therefore a section of the conveying device 1 in which are present both the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, see Figure 4. The transition boundary 5 evolves in this overlap area 1 1. In the upstream portion of this section, the upstream conveyor 3 is preferably above the downstream conveyor 4 to drive the products 2 to the transition boundary 5. In the downstream portion of this section, the downstream conveyor 4 is in turn preferentially above the upstream conveyor 3 to drive in turn the products 2 from the transition zone 5 Figure 2 illustrates a column of products 2 which moves on the upper part of the conveyor, first on the upstream conveyor 3, higher, then on the downstream conveyor 4, higher in turn.

The products 2 thus circulate in three successive zones fixed relative to the frame, namely in a first zone where only the upstream conveyor 3 is present, then an overlap zone 1 1 where both the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 are present, then an area where only the downstream conveyor 4 is present. The transition boundary 5 moves in particular under the effect of the control means 5 within this overlap area 1 1.

It will be stated further that, in order to prevent the products from rotating during conveying, it is important that the drive force caused by the conveyor is symmetrical with respect to the median axis of the product 2. It is therefore it is preferable that the median axis does not move during the passage from one to the other of the conveyors, which has the consequence that the conveyors are like nested and entangled, succeeding one another symmetrical alternately in a horizontal direction transverse to the flow 6, as shown in Figure 4.

According to another possible additional characteristic, the plane tangential to the conveying surface of the upstream conveyor 3 and the plane tangent to the conveying surface of the downstream conveyor 4 have an intersection which extends substantially perpendicularly to the flow 6 and horizontally in the normal configuration. of use, and which forms the transition boundary 5. The conveying surface of the downstream conveyor 4 and that of the upstream conveyor 3 are preferably flat, but, as described below, they may also be slightly curved. According to this characteristic, although being one after the other and thus linking together in the conveyor within the conveying device 1, the direction in which the products 2 are driven, seen from the side, changes at the example of the upstream conveyor 3, before this border, the product 2 may go down slightly, then be up after, etc. Any change of direction configuration is possible. This intersection between the conveying planes is found in the area of overlap 1 1.

Thus, the two conveyors are such that, whatever their relative position, they form, seen from their side, at their upper surface, an intersection which extends transversely to the stream 6 to form the transition boundary 5.

The upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4 has / show essentially vertical mobility in the normal configuration of use, controlled by the control means 7 and making it possible to advance or retreat in the flow direction 6 the transition boundary 5.

As already pointed out, according to an additional possible characteristic, upstream of the transition boundary 5, the upstream conveyor 3 extends above the downstream conveyor 4. Upstream of the transition boundary 5, the downstream conveyor 4 is thus prolonged under the upstream conveyor 3. This crossing of the conveyors, seen from the side, is thus observed for any position of the transition boundary 5 within the overlap zone 1 1, between a position all the upstream in the area of overlap 1 1, and a position downstream.

The vertical movement of the upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4 is preferably arranged by providing a cantilever mounting with vertical mobility of its / their free end. So, according to an additional possible feature, at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 has a cantilever, movable at its anchorage, about an axis of rotation 8 transverse to the stream 6 and essentially horizontal, of so as to be able to dynamically adjust the height of its cantilever end, and therefore the position in the direction of the flow 6 of the transition boundary 5, located at the intersection between the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 By analogy, viewed from the side, the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 thus form a cross, whose two upper points are fixed, at their anchorage, and at least one lower point is movable, the intersection between the two branches forming the transition boundary 5. Move vertically at least one lower end then moves, upstream or downstream of the stream 6, the intersection from which the product 2 changes d e conveyor.

Preferably, the axis of rotation 8 is at the upstream end of the upstream conveyor 3, and the downstream conveyor 4 is essentially horizontal in the normal configuration of use, although such a configuration can also be reversed, with a upstream conveyor 3 fixed and a downstream conveyor 4 partially mobile.

It remains of course possible to provide that the axis of rotation 8 is not at the end of the conveyor but that it has as a break at which it becomes mobile, so that at least one conveyor the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 has a fixed portion and a vertically movable portion which follow one another, the same band without fm thus winding around the fixed part and then the movable part.

According to an advantageous characteristic facilitating the control of the vertical movement as a function of the desired position of the transition boundary 5, at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 has, viewed from the side, a curved profile which goes down towards the transition border 5, said curved profile being preferably in the form of a circular arc.

Finally, according to another possible additional feature, the control means 7 comprises a controlled actuator 9 whose movement has the effect of moving the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 relative to each other so as to change the position of the transition boundary 5 relative to the frame. The actuator 9 takes the form of a motor, a cylinder or other, in particular a controlled motor that controls the rotational movement of the upstream conveyor 3 or downstream conveyor 4 about an axis of rotation 8 horizontal and transverse to the flow 6. The invention also relates to a method implementing the device as described above, namely a method of conveying products 2 in stream form 6, to create separate batches 10 from a column of products 2, said method comprising:

conveying the products 2 on an upstream conveyor 3, then conveying the products 2 on a downstream conveyor 4 located just after,

these conveyors being arranged so as to have a transition boundary 5, upstream of which a product 2 is driven by the upstream conveyor 3 and downstream of which it is driven by the downstream conveyor 4.

The upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 operate continuously, that is to say that their conveying movement does not undergo discontinuity. In contrast to the embodiments of the prior art, the batches are created not by arranging discontinuities in at least one product circulation rate 2, but by changing the location very regularly, within the column of products 2 , from where the products pass from one conveyor to another.

Indeed, according to the invention, this method comprises a step consisting essentially of

move the transition boundary 5 upstream or downstream of the stream 6, and during the conveying of products 2, preferably by performing a vertical movement at at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, so as to be able to modulate, during the course of conveying, the number of products 2 that comprise the batches 10 which circulate on the downstream conveyor 4 as well as the spacing between these batches 10 on said downstream conveyor 4.

The downstream conveyor 4 preferably has a speed of movement of the products 2 which is higher than the upstream conveyor 3, so that as soon as it becomes driven by the downstream conveyor 4 after passing the transition boundary 5, the product 2 s distance from the next product 2, which makes it possible to create a space between the batches 10. It is therefore important for the products 2 of the same batch 10 to be compacted within the batch, to avoid that a first product 2 can not distance the next product 2 and thus quickly position the transition boundary 5 further upstream once the previous product in the batch 10 is passed on the downstream conveyor 4 is at least upstream of this next product 2.

According to an additional possible characteristic, moving the transition boundary 5 is done by performing, by means of an actuator 9 of a control means 7 of the location of the transition boundary 5, a vertical displacement of at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4. Controlling a vertical movement is in fact faster and therefore easier to control, because of a smaller amplitude than the path that must quickly traverse the transition boundary 5 for two products 5 remain one against the other in a batch 10 on the downstream conveyor 4. The same displacement of the transition boundary 5 is therefore faster and more controllable if it is the consequence of a vertical movement which, by geometric construction described above, is transformed into a horizontal movement of much greater amplitude.

Finally, according to another possible additional feature, moving the transition boundary 5 upstream of the stream 6 is done by moving down at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4.

Such a displacement of the transition boundary 5 is for example by lowering the portion of the upstream conveyor 3 which is downstream in the direction of the flow 6 so as to pass almost simultaneously several products 2 of the upstream conveyor 3 to the downstream conveyor 4 Moving the transition boundary 5 downstream of the flow 6 is then done by moving upstream the upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4.

The vertical movement of at least one conveyor from the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, under the action of the control means 7, thus makes it possible to advance or retract the transition boundary 5. To widen a gap between the products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4 and the products 2 on the upstream conveyor 3, it is therefore necessary to move the transition boundary 5 downstream of the flow 6, so that it remains in front of the product column 2 of the upstream conveyor 3, while the products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4 move away. Thus, the control of the control means 7 requires knowing the position of the downstream end of the product column 2 on the upstream conveyor 3. For this, the conveying device 1 further comprises a means of detecting the longitudinal position of the product column 2 at least on the upstream conveyor 3. Such a detection means is preferably fixed relative to the frame and may, for example, take the form of a pair of strips which extends in the direction of the flow 6 , one forming a transmitter, on one side of the product column 2, the other forming a receiver, on the other side of the product column 2. In such an embodiment, the detection is based on the fact that the products 2 between these strips prevent the movement from one to the other of an optical type signal, infrared or other.

As this detection means is fixed relative to the frame, but the transition boundary 5 is movable relative to this frame, upstream or downstream of the flow 6, the detection zone of said detection means can become occupied by products 2 which circulate on the downstream conveyor 4. To identify the end of the column of products 2 on the upstream conveyor 3, it is therefore possible to take into account the space that is created between, on the one hand, the products 2 on the upstream conveyor 3, and, secondly, the products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4. Indeed, the products 2 are not normally spaced from each other on the upstream conveyor 3.

The conveying device 1 therefore preferably comprises a processing unit which receives, inter alia, the signal from the product detection means 2, and controls the control means 7 accordingly, taking into account, on the one hand, the desired space between each pair of batches 10 of products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4, and, secondly, the number of products 2 desired in each batch 10. In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the conveying device 1 is presented in the form of a product processing unit 2 which circulates in the form of a single column. The products 2 are first of all on an accumulation conveyor, which possibly comprises the conveying device 1. Successive products 2 are then in contact one behind the other on this accumulation conveyor. Downstream of this accumulation conveyor, the conveying device 1 comprises, for the column to be treated, the succession of two conveyors, namely an upstream conveyor 3 directly supplied with products 2 by the accumulation conveyor and a downstream conveyor 4, directly fed by the upstream conveyor 3. It is at the transition boundary 5 that the products 2 pass from a drive caused by the upstream conveyor 3 to a drive caused by the downstream conveyor 4. Of course, upstream of the accumulation conveyor, there can be provided means for rotating the products 2 about a vertical axis in order to be able to propose all possible palletization schemes. It should be noted at this point that the conveying device 1 can be arranged to process several columns of products 2 in parallel, and then comprises several such parallel arrangements of conveyors in series.

The accumulation conveyor preferably conveys the products 2 in a substantially horizontal plane. Seen from the side, as in Figures 1 to 3, in operation, the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 form in their upper part a very open V, preferably pointing downwards, at least at the downstream part of the conveyor upstream 3 and the upstream portion of the downstream conveyor 4. The transition boundary 5 is therefore at the tip of this V, and extends substantially horizontally and transversely to the stream 6. The product 2 is therefore successively driven by firstly by the upstream conveyor 3 and then by the downstream conveyor 4, the change being made at the level of the transition boundary 5.

In operation, the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 are permanently positioned so that a product 2 flows first on the upstream conveyor 3 and then on the downstream conveyor 4, after the transition boundary 5. As soon as the downstream conveyor 4 drives the products 2 at a higher speed than does the upstream conveyor 3, the products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4 will be spaced from those still on the upstream conveyor 3, thus creating batches 10, as will be described further.

Seen from above, the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 have an upper product drive surface 2 which is sufficiently symmetrical with respect to the median direction of flow 6, to avoid rotating the products 2. Each of these conveyors therefore has a substantially symmetrical configuration with respect to the central axis of the external guides which condition the position of the products 2 in a single column in the stream 6. They are therefore symmetrical with respect to the column of products 2 they must convey. Thus, for example, one of the two conveyors may be formed of a single central band, whose surface extends in the center of the column of products 2. The other may then be formed of two strips placed symmetrically relative to each other. to the center line of the product column 2, ie a strip on one side and a strip on the other with respect to the central axis of the flow 6. Of course, a slight asymmetry is tolerable, insofar as it does not create an uncontrolled torque around the vertical axis.

One of the essential functions of the conveying device 1 described is to be able to create series of batches 10 of products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4, from products 2 evolving at the level of the upstream conveyor 3 in a single compact column, or which are at contact each other. Each batch 10 on the downstream conveyor 4 comprises several products 2 one behind the other in a compact configuration, ideally in contact with each other. The batches 10 on the downstream conveyor 4 are separated from each other by a certain distance. During operation, the desired number of products 2 in successive batches 10 varies, as well as the desired distance between batches 10, and this depending on the desired arrangement of the layer to be palletized.

Thanks to the conveying device 1 described here, it is possible to create a batch 10 of products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4 by moving upstream of the flow 6 the transition boundary 5 between the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, and this even as the products 2 are in circulation. A portion of the product column 2 present on the upstream conveyor 3 then passes on the downstream conveyor 4. The products 2 remain sufficiently close to each other to form a batch 10 when the movement of movement of the transition boundary 5 is fast enough. It is therefore by quickly changing the place from which the products 2 are taken care of by the downstream conveyor 4 that lots 10 can be created on the downstream conveyor 4. The portion of the product column 2 present on the conveyor Upstream 3 between this location and its position after modification thus passes on the downstream conveyor 4 and forms a lot 10, that the downstream conveyor 4 then clears since it preferably flows at a higher speed than the upstream conveyor 3.

The conveying device 1 thus has a dynamic configuration at these two conveyors, which makes it possible to vary the position, with respect to the product column 2 on the upstream conveyor 3, of the place from which they are driven by the downstream conveyor 4. The movement of one and / or the other of these two conveyors makes it possible to move this transition boundary 5 further upstream or further downstream of the flow 6. The downstream conveyor 4 preferably circulates faster than the upstream conveyor 3, which allows, once products 2 are on said conveyor downstream 4, to remove products 2 still on the upstream conveyor 3 and thus create a space between several products 2 remained one behind the other in a compact manner, that is to say in batch 10. To create a batch on the downstream conveyor 4, that is to say a group of products 2 tightened, it is necessary, given this difference in speed, to quickly move the transition boundary 5 to avoid that, during this displacement of said border, a product 2 which becomes driven by the downstream conveyor 4 has time to deviate from the product 2 next still driven by the upstream conveyor 3, which would create a space between these two products 2, not a lot 10.

Generally speaking, before a first product 2, which has just been taken over by the downstream conveyor 4 in view of the position of the transition boundary 5, can not move too far from a second product 2 just after him, still driven by the upstream conveyor 3, it is necessary to move said border upstream of the stream 6 until the second product 2 also becomes driven by the downstream conveyor 4 and follows the first product 2 to a distance as small as possible, and so on for all the products 2 to be contained in the batch 10. The amplitude of the displacement of the transition boundary 5 upstream of the stream 6 thus depends on the number of products 2 desired in lot 10. The creation of a lot by displacement of the transition boundary 5 is particularly illustrated in Figure 3a and b.

Having thus created a batch 10 on the downstream conveyor 4, and thus having moved the transition boundary 5 upstream of the stream 6 sufficiently quickly so that all the desired products 2 in the batch 10 pass simultaneously on the conveyor downstream 4 without distance between them, it is necessary to create a spacing between the last product 2 of this batch 10 and the first product 2 of the following batch 10. To do this, we continue to move the transition boundary 5, in this case preferably downstream of the stream 6, leaving it possibly fixed with respect to the product column 2 on the upstream conveyor 3. This is illustrated in FIG. 3c and d, which show, with respect to FIG. 3b, that the transition boundary 5 moves downstream of stream 6, to prevent products 2 from continuing to transit towards the downstream conveyor 4.

After the formation of a batch 10, maintaining the position of the transition boundary 5 would have the effect of passing one after the other the products 2 of the upstream conveyor 3 on the downstream conveyor 4, with a spacing between them which then depends on the distance traveled by the product 2 on the downstream conveyor 4 between the moment it is driven by him until the next product becomes in turn.

Thus, after having brought a lot 10 of product 2 onto the downstream conveyor 4, all the products 2 evolve for a certain time thanks to the conveyor on which they are, without changing, until the desired distance is reached between, on the one hand, the products 2 which circulate in batch 10 on the downstream conveyor 4, and, on the other hand, the products 2 which circulate more slowly on the upstream conveyor 3. After the formation of a batch 10, so that the products 2 remain on the conveyor where they are, it is necessary to move the transition boundary 5, generally downstream of the flow 6. Thus, thanks to the relative movement of the upstream conveyor 3 and the conveyor downstream 4 which makes it possible to move the transition boundary 5, it is possible to move said boundary downstream of the stream 6 until the product 2 furthest downstream on the upstream conveyor 3 is at the desired distance from the product 2 upstream on the downstream conveyor 4, that is, -dire the desired distance between batches 10 on the downstream conveyor 4. It is then sufficient to recreate a batch as described above, illustrated in particular in Figure 3e.

The manner in which a mobility of the upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4 can be arranged to achieve an effective displacement of the transition boundary 5 will now be described.

As already mentioned, the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 are arranged so that, in operation, their respective drive surfaces are connected in the direction of flow 6, without being strictly oriented in the same plane , so that a flat-bottomed product 2 passing from one to the other can not rest simultaneously on the two conveyors with its entire lower surface. The sequence of driving surfaces of these two conveyors is therefore in the form of a V open, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. Thus, during the passage of the upstream conveyor 3 to the downstream conveyor 4 the part of the product 4 which is downstream arrives on the downstream conveyor 4 while the part of the product 4 which is upstream is still on the upstream conveyor 3, see FIG. 2.

The upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 are, for example, planar and positioned so that the two planes they form intersect with each other. level of a horizontal virtual line transverse to the stream 6, then forming the transition boundary 5.

Given the arrangement described above, the products 2 flow on the upstream conveyor 3 to the transition boundary 5, which essentially forms the place from which they are supported and driven by the downstream conveyor 4 This transition boundary 5 is located at the point of the V formed by the succession of the upper driving surfaces of these two conveyors, seen from the side, or even FIG. 2. To modify the position of this transition boundary 5 and allow it to go up stream 6 so as to create a lot 10 on the downstream conveyor 4 as it has been described, it is then enough to arrange a controlled mobility of the one and / or the other conveyor so as to modify in In particular, the length of the branch of the V formed by the upstream conveyor 3. A vertical displacement of the upstream conveyor 3 is for example illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 1 illustrates the possibility of vertical displacement of each of the two conveyors. In these two figures, a mobile conveyor is mounted cantilevered and rotatable at its anchoring portion, opposite to the overhang. As already pointed out, the rotational axis 8 can also be arranged between the two ends of the conveyor.

In particular, moving the transition boundary 5 in the direction of flow 6, upstream or backward, can then be done simply by performing a vertical movement of one and / or the other of these two conveyors . Such a movement will have the effect of opening or closing slightly the V shape that they take to one side. FIG. 3 clearly shows that lowering the free end of the upstream conveyor 3 has the effect of moving the transition boundary 5 upstream of the flow 6, and, conversely, mounting the free end of the upstream conveyor 3 a for effect of moving the transition boundary 5 downstream of the stream 6.

The advantage of this configuration is that the displacement of the transition boundary 5 upstream or downstream of the stream 6 is with a movement in another direction and therefore of smaller amplitude. The speed at which the transition boundary 5 can be moved upstream of the flow 6 conditions the possible difference between the products 2 of the same batch 10. In particular, the difference between two products 2 depends on the time that sets the transition boundary 5 to join the product 2 the most downstream of the two. In addition, the number of products 2 desired in a batch conditions the total amplitude of the displacement. The described configuration of the conveyor upstream 3 and the downstream conveyor 4 allows this displacement by arranging a vertical movement of smaller amplitude, and can therefore be performed much faster than with a movement in the direction of the flow, that is to say essentially horizontal. Rather than moving longitudinally the upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4, it is therefore proposed to simply move vertically one and / or the other, totally or locally, so as to obtain a longitudinal displacement of the passage from one to the other. The displacement of the transition boundary 5 is then much faster and requires only a small amplitude movement.

Thus, in some embodiments, the upstream conveyor 3 is lowered through the downstream conveyor 4 to deposit there almost simultaneously several close products 2 and which will form a batch 10. In other embodiments, the downstream conveyor 4 is raised through the upstream conveyor 3 to take almost simultaneously several products 2 and form a batch 10.

Of course, to ensure the continuity of the products 2 drive from one to the other of these two conveyors, it is preferable to allow them to cross, seen from the side, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The configuration of the conveying device 1 can then be an entanglement of the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4: at least one of these two conveyors can be propagated under the other beyond the transition border 5. It suffices to make a vertical movement of one and / or the other of these conveyors at the transition boundary 5 to move it upstream or downstream of the flow 6.

As it is necessary to maintain a symmetrical conveying relative to the product column 2, it is not possible to simply have an upstream conveyor 3 and a downstream conveyor 4 which, seen from above, are side by side in one direction 6. As seen from above, as in FIG. 4, the upstream conveyor 3 as well as the downstream conveyor 4 are in the form of strands arranged alternately next to each other in a horizontal direction transverse to the flow 6 the at least one strand forming a conveyor being positioned or positioned sufficiently symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the flow 6 to avoid rotating the products 2 which it drives.

In one possible embodiment, the downstream conveyor 4 is essentially horizontal and is in the form of two strands disposed on either side of the median axis of the flow 6. The upstream conveyor 3 is in the form of a single strand, along the median axis of the stream 6, or three strands, as in FIG. 4. The conveying surface of the upstream conveyor 3 is not strictly horizontal but starts from a level higher than that of the downstream conveyor 4, and progressively descends to the height of the plane of the downstream conveyor 4. The end upstream of the upstream conveyor 3 is fixed, while its downstream end is vertically movable according to a certain deflection, in particular thanks to a degree of freedom upstream. Although the exact position of the upstream conveyor 3 with respect to the downstream conveyor 4 may vary, it will have been understood that, on the one hand, in at least one operating state, the upstream conveyor 3 can extend in the flow direction 6, beyond the transition boundary 5, and below the level of the downstream conveyor 4, and, on the other hand, in a least one operating state, the downstream conveyor 4 also extends below the level of the upstream conveyor 3 beyond the transition boundary 5. They are thus also linked in a vertical direction. In addition, for the purposes of drive symmetry, they are also linked in a transverse direction horizontal to the stream 6 by the strands that form them.

The necessary vertical movement, for example at the level of the boom, the upstream conveyor 3 and / or the downstream conveyor 4, can be achieved in several different ways.

A first method uses a motor driving a belt which, under the action of the engine, subjects the conveyor to a force opposed to its weight. Thus, to lower the conveyor, it is sufficient to maneuver the motor in a direction of decreasing the tension of the belt, which will allow the conveyor to go down. Conversely, by increasing the tension of the belt, the conveyor is lifted. The movement of this actuator motor 9 is controlled by the control means 7. It is however necessary to control the speed at which the conveyor descends, to prevent it from falling faster than the products 2, which would then fall then a shock once the conveyor stabilized.

A second way implements an actuator 9 comprising a motor which by an eccentric rod type, causes a vertical movement of the conveyor, see Figure 5. The advantage of such a solution is that the movement is fully controllable, in speed, in motion and amplitude, for each direction.

Thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to transfer simultaneously or almost simultaneously all the products intended to form the same batch 10 of the upstream conveyor 3 to the downstream conveyor 4 circulating at higher speed, and by moving upstream of the flow 6 the transition border 5 through a vertical movement, which avoids gaps between products of the same batch. It is also possible to arrange a displacement of the transition boundary 5 downstream of the flow 6 from a vertical structure movement, so as to prevent such a transfer of products 2, despite the continuous movement of these conveyors , the time away from each other, on the one hand, the products 2 on the upstream conveyor 3 and, on the other hand, the products 2 on the downstream conveyor 4, to create the desired spacing between batches 10.

The products 2 therefore do not undergo shocks at any time against each other because of their advancement, and the conveyors can operate continuously.

The vertical movement of one of the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, in particular a descent of the downstream end of the upstream conveyor 3, is therefore fast enough for the products 2 which are upstream of the transition boundary 5 before this movement and downstream after this movement all pass simultaneously from the upstream conveyor 3 to the downstream conveyor 4, or at least with sufficiently short time intervals from one product 2 to the next so that the downstream conveyor 4, faster than the conveyor upstream 3, does not cause spacing between them.

The control means 7 can therefore be controlled to obtain a rise of the transition boundary 5 upstream of the flow which is very fast and does not increase, if necessary, the spacing between the products 2.

In particular, FIG. 6 shows that the transition boundary 5 evolves between two extreme positions, which are defined by the construction of the device, in particular the length of the mobile section of the conveyor. In the figure, the time increases from top to bottom. During the process, the transition boundary 5 flows between these two extreme positions, at different speeds, and changing direction to positions that are not necessarily the extreme positions. The speed at which the transition boundary 5 goes downstream is different from the speed at which it goes to Ramont. The difference between the extreme positions of the transition boundary 5 defines the largest number of products 2 that can pass simultaneously on the downstream conveyor 4 and thus form a compact batch 10. The position of the transition boundary 5 is completely controlled and modifiable at any moment upstream or downstream, thanks to the processing unit and the control means 7.

An instantaneous movement to the left, which represents the upstream of the flow, thus corresponds to an immediate passage of a number of products 2 which corresponds to the length of the path traveled by the transition boundary 5. A path to the right represents the product retention 2 on the upstream conveyor 3.

Thus, the device is such that it has a form of accumulation zone between the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4, this accumulation zone being delimited by the possible extreme positions of the transition boundary 5, and being sufficiently great to receive the largest lot 10 possible.

As has already been pointed out, during a production, the size of the successive batches changes as well as the difference between batches 10, in particular taking into account a downstream palletization scheme and the need to insert manipulation tools as well as their movement times, etc. The movements of the transition boundary 5, which define both the number of products 2 in the batch 10 released and the difference between the batches 10, are therefore not identical each time, but each time controlled by the unit of treatment, which controls the control means 7, and hence the vertical movement of the at least one conveyor, and therefore the position of the transition boundary 5.

The processing unit thus controls the mobile conveyor, that is to say the upstream conveyor 3 or the downstream conveyor 4, according to a set point in terms of batch size to be dropped on the downstream conveyor 4 and 10. This control also includes the speed at which the conveyor makes its vertical movement, and preferably in both directions: the upstream transition boundary 5 upstream must be fast enough not to spread. products 2 from each other, and the descent downstream must avoid bringing back against the upstream conveyor 3 products 2 previously released on the downstream conveyor 4 and flowing at a higher speed. The detection means with which the device is equipped thus makes it possible to detect the position of the column of products 2 upstream, and in particular to define accordingly the desired position of the transition boundary 5: either bring it downstream. it is necessary to increase the difference with the previous batch 10 on the downstream conveyor 4, or bring it abruptly upstream, and how much, to bring simultaneously on the downstream conveyor 4 the number of products 2 corresponding to the Lot 10. The detection means can in particular detect the downstream border of the product column 2 leading to the upstream conveyor 3.

The device is thus provided with a processing unit which controls the control means 7 for each batch 10 to be created, as a function of the detection of the column of products 2 entering, and predefined batch size instructions 10 and / or space between them.

The processing unit coordinates the position and / or speed of the transition boundary 5 as a function of the positions and / or speeds of the upstream conveyor 3 and the downstream conveyor 4.

It is thus possible to circulate a column of products 2 in contact with each other on the upstream conveyor 3, and to pass them by batch 10 on the downstream conveyor 4. In these batches 10, the products 2 are still in contact each other. Indeed, the control means 7 is fast enough not to increase the difference between certain products 2 during their passage on the downstream conveyor 4, and may however allow to increase the difference between a pair of products 2, which do not deviate further from their respective position on the upstream conveyor 3, therefore form the batch 10. The process can therefore receive products 2 which are in contact with each other on the upstream conveyor 3, and produce batches 10 of products 2 in which the products 2 are still in contact with each other, while the batches 10 are spaced from each other.

In order not to further separate two products 2 between, on the one hand, the configuration on the upstream conveyor 3, and, on the other hand, the configuration on the downstream conveyor 4, the control means 7 ensures that the first product 2 the most upstream of the two arrives on the downstream conveyor 4 before the product 2 the most downstream of the two has been driven by the downstream conveyor 4. This principle extends to products 2 of the same batch 10: the control means 7 ensures that the product 2 the most upstream of the batch 10 arrives on the downstream conveyor 4 before the product 2 further downstream of the batch 10 is driven by the downstream conveyor 4, thanks to its inertia and its dynamic control. The products 2 in contact in the upstream column can therefore remain in contact in the batches 10 downstream. Of course, the contact between two products 2 may, in fact, consist in having the products 2 extremely close to one another with respect to their own dimensions: for example up to 5 millimeters for products of the box type .

Although the description above is based on particular embodiments, it is in no way limiting to the scope of the invention, and modifications may be made, in particular by substitution of technical equivalents or by a different combination of all or some of the features developed above.

Claims

1. conveying device (1) of products (2) for moving them in flow (6) with respect to a fixed frame and separating in batch (10) a compact column of such products (2),

said conveying device (1) comprising an upstream conveyor (3) and a downstream conveyor (4) one after the other, arranged so that the products (2) circulate on the upstream conveyor (3) then on the downstream conveyor (4),

said conveying device (1) having a transition boundary (5), transverse to the flow (6), upstream of which a product (2) is conveyed by the upstream conveyor (3) and downstream of which it is conveyed by the downstream conveyor (4),

device characterized in that

it comprises a control means (7) able to move the transition boundary (5) upstream or downstream of the flow (6) by creating a vertical movement.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein

the upstream end of the downstream conveyor (4) is upstream of the downstream end of the upstream conveyor (3),

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the plane tangent to the conveying surface of the upstream conveyor

(3) and the plane tangential to the conveying surface of the downstream conveyor (4) have an intersection which extends substantially perpendicular to the flow (6) and horizontally in the normal configuration of use, and which forms the transition boundary ( 5).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

upstream of the transition boundary (5), the upstream conveyor (3) extends above the downstream conveyor (4).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor (3) and the downstream conveyor (4) has a cantilever, movable at its anchorage, about an axis of rotation (8) transverse to the flow (6) and essentially horizontal .

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein

at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor (3) and the downstream conveyor (4) has, seen from the side, a curved profile which descends towards the transition boundary (5).

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein

the control means (7) comprises a controlled actuator (9), the movement of which has the effect of moving the upstream conveyor (3) and the downstream conveyor (4) relative to each other.

A method of conveying products (2) in flow form (6) to create batches (10) separated from a column of products (2), said method comprising:

conveying the products (2) on an upstream conveyor (3), then conveying the products (2) on a downstream conveyor (4) located just after,

these conveyors being arranged so as to have a transition boundary (5), upstream of which a product (2) is driven by the upstream conveyor (3) and downstream of which it is driven by the downstream conveyor (4),

characterized in that it comprises a step consisting essentially of

moving the transition boundary (5) upstream or downstream of the flow (6) during the conveying of products (2).

The method of claim 8, wherein

the transition boundary (5) is displaced by performing, by means of an actuator (9) of a control means (7) of the location of the transition boundary (5), a vertical displacement of at least a conveyor among the upstream conveyor (3) and the downstream conveyor (4).

The method of claim 9, wherein

moving the transition boundary (5) upstream of the flow (6) is by moving down at least one conveyor among the upstream conveyor (3) and the downstream conveyor (4).